We received a lot of questions, and they were all over the place — house, laundry room, kitchen, etc. It seems the same cleaning and stain questions that my mother, the original Heloise, answered 40 years ago are still a hot, hot topic. To start off, I would like to share a few words of wisdom from my mother — recently sent to me by a reader.

Dear Heloise,When I was a young bride 30 years ago I remember your mother saying to top-clean the house first and the rest will fall into place — if not, at least your home looks presentable. I have followed her advice (and yours) every day. When I get stressed and don't know where to start, I think of your mother and start at the "top" — clear the counters, dust only what I can see, and vacuum just the middle. The place does look presentable, and I can stop there — or go on if I have the time and inclination. Thanks for all your help!
—Anne M., Florida

Yup! That was my mother, and I still follow the same advice today. Don't worry about what you (or your guest) can't see.

Q: My black silk shirt has an orange splattered bleach stain on it. Do you know of any dyes to hide the stain?—Noelle CaterinoA: Don't you hate that! This happens a lot, and since you cannot "remove" a bleach stain, you have try to cover it up. Here are a few things to try: A black permanent felt-tip marker or black ink pen. There are also special "fabric" pens sold in fabric and craft shops that work wonders — they come in several colors and are worth having around. As last resort you could cover the spot with a pin or appliqué — depending on the location.

Q: My mother gave me her cedar chest. I will always treasure it, but unfortunately she put mothballs in it. The odor is very strong. My husband wants to use sandpaper, but I am afraid that would destroy the wood.—SullyA: Your husband is on the right track. Our sources recommend lightly sanding the inside with very fine sandpaper (0000 grade), then vacuuming up the dust. Leave the chest open, and if you can point a fan on it to circulate the air, that will help the mothball odor dissipate. You can buy cedar oil or spray to help freshen the wood, but please use caution and don't overdo. You don't want the oil to come in contact with anything you store in the chest.

Q: Do you have a remedy for unsticking photos? I have some color pictures that were held together with a paper clip in very hot, humid weather.—RhughesA: This can be a little difficult. First, if they are very important to you or have historical value, it is suggested by professionals that you let an expert handle them. That being said, here is what you can try at home. Put the pictures in the freezer in a plastic bag, but leave the bag open.
This will prevent the photos from touching anything but will allow them to "dry out," the same way meat does when not properly sealed. It may take a few days, or even several weeks. Then you should be able to carefully pull them apart. If they still won't budge, take them to photo shop where they actually develop film with chemicals — not a one-hour place — and they might be able to help.

Q: I read that you can sharpen the blades of your garbage disposal by running ice cubes in it. Is this true?—RoselilleyA: No, it is not! And yes, this old hint is in my mother's books as well as some of my older ones. But new research shows that this does not "sharpen" the blades — because there are no blades! There are rotating cutters that shred food. The only thing that the ice cubes might do is knock off bits of food that may be stuck on the side. The way to clean the disposal is to put the stopper in the drain, fill the sink with hot, soapy water, then pull the plug so a gush of water fills the disposal. Turn on the unit and let cold water run for several minutes to push it all through the plumbing system. My favorite disposal hint? Throw in some citrus rinds, like lemon, orange, or grapefruit peel, run lots of cold water, and grind away. Your kitchen will smell wonderful!

Q: Can you please share your mother's formula for cleaning windows?—FisherA: Sure can. Just grab your bottle of household vinegar — white or apple cider, whichever is cheaper at the store. You can mix about 1/4 cup of vinegar with 1 quart water. You can also mix 1 tablespoon of clear (nonsudsing) ammonia with 1 quart of water. Be sure to label the spray bottle well, and you can even add a drop of blue food coloring so the cleaner looks like the store-bought stuff. I still swear by newspapers to dry with. Some people don't like them because they can leave ink on your hands, but they sure make the windows shine and don't leave lint like paper towels. A squeegee is a must for washing windows and will really do a good job. Remember, don't wash windows on a bright sunny day; the cleaning solution dries too quickly and may streak. Also, if doing both sides, wipe in an up-and-down motion on one side, then side-to-side on the other. You will be able to see which side the streaks are on.

Q: I left a load of dark clothes in the washer too long, and now they smell sour. Is there any way to get that smell out of the clothes without using bleach?—T. HoganA: Of course. You should rewash them in the hottest water safe for the fabric with the correct amount of detergent. Don't overload the washer — you should wash only a few items at a time, so that the clothes can freely move about and be rinsed well. You can try rinsing with vinegar, which can help remove some of that smell. Try adding several cups of vinegar to the rinse cycle. Some manufactures don't recommend putting vinegar in a washer because it is an acid, and they say that it might harm the tub. But my thinking is that 5 percent acetic acid diluted by 10 to 20 gallons of water can't do much harm, especially if you do this only once in a while.